The Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal on Saturday observed the World Environment Day under the theme ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ at its constituent colleges and headquarters in Imphal West.
During the observance, vice-chancellor of CAU Anupam Mishra emphasised the necessity of planting oxygen releasing plants, nutritional fodder and life supporting trees in times like these when the utmost need of mankind is nothing but fresh air to breathe, CAU stated in a release signed by information and publicity officer Indira Thounaojam.
A total of 1,000 saplings were also planted during the programme, including the oxygen releasing plants like peepal tree, curry leaf, Indian bail, neem tree, fodder tree like mulberry, plantation crops like areca nut and black pepper, nutritional or livelihood trees like sapota (chiku), litchi, mango, jackfruit, pomegranate, kachai lemon, mandarin orange, guava along with other forest tree plants like terminalia chebula, tree bean, as well as ornamental trees like gulmohar (delonix regia), champa (michelia champaca), CAU stated.
The university also felicitated president of Environmental Social Reformation and Sangai Protection Forum Tongbram Budhi and president of All Loktak Lake Areas Fisheries Union Manipur (ALLAFUM) Kh Deven Singh for their contribution in conservation of ecosystem through various activities carried out by their organisations, it added.
“Deven and his team have been working for the welfare of the poor fishermen of Loktak since 2012. Prevention of killing migratory birds; promoting indigenous fishing equipment to save Loktak eco-system, revival of indigenous wetland vegetation of Loktak Lake are some of the tasks carried out by his organisation,” it mentioned.
It also mentioned, “Budhi and his team have organised water bird census of Loktak Lake in association with Forest department, Wildlife wing and Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN) Manipur, the organisation is also engaged in counting of Sangai deer with the Forest department, Wildlife Wing.”
The programme was attended by director of Instruction Basanta Singh; director of Extension Education Professor Ph Ranjit Shurma; dean of College of Agriculture, Imphal Professor Indira Sarangthem; dean of College of Food Technology. Imphal Ng Joykumar; registrar Professor K Mamocha Singh; comptroller of CAU MC Jublani and other staff of the university and colleges, it added.
